Deputies: Killing of Houston man watering yard appears random

Updated 1:52 pm, Wednesday, July 24, 2013

At a Crime Stoppers news conference Wednesday morning, Garza family members pleaded with public for help in solving the killing of Jose Cavazos Garza. (Dale Lezon / Houston Chronicle)

At a Crime Stoppers news conference Wednesday morning, Garza family members pleaded with public for help in solving the killing of Jose Cavazos Garza. (Dale Lezon / Houston Chronicle)

Deputies: Killing of Houston man watering yard appears random

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Investigators say they have uncovered few leads a month after a man was apparently randomly killed while he watered his prized front yard in north Harris County.

Jose Cavazos Garza was fatally shot about 11 p.m. June 23 outside his home in the 5700 block of Fair Forest near Enchanted Forest, said Deputy Abraham Alanis of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said during a news conference Wednesday morning.

Alanis said Garza was in his front yard watering the lawn and turning off exterior lights when a suspect approached him and opened fire. His family members, who were in the house at the time of the shooting, found him wounded just outside the front door.

The suspect or suspects left after the gunfire.

Investigators have few clues in the case, Alanis said. He said investigators have no motive in the slaying and no description of the gunman or other suspects. Alanis said he doesn't believe Garza was targeted for any reason and the shooting "looks random."

Garza's family members pleaded with the public for help in finding the killer.

Garza's daughter, Karina Cavazos, said her father lovingly cared for his lawn and flower beds. He watered the lawn and flowers each night, she said. He also loved to play soccer. He was a kind, caring, hard-working man who loved his family and helped anyone who needed it.

His loss, she added, has been tough for the family.

"We just want to find whoever took my dad away," she said.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS or online at www.crime-stoppers.org. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 and to CRIMES (274637).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the filing of felony charges or the arrest of a suspect in the case.